Oakworth residents’ dismay after speed humps traffic calming rejected

An Oakworth road will remain hump-free after councillors voted to scrap a controversial traffic calming proposal for Providence Crescent.

But residents may now block the road with their own vehicles to slow down speeding drivers, said one concerned parent.

Despite homeowners being split, with 55 in favour and 54 against the scheme, Keighley Area Committee voted to go with officers’ recommendations and ditch the planned series of round-top humps.

When first mooted in October last year, the initial plan met with a total of 12 objections, including a woman with a bad back who claimed she might suffer discrimination because any humps could leave her housebound Another resident feared the humps might hurt his wife, who has disc damage to her back.

But this week, one of those in favour of calming measures told of his disappointment the scheme had been binned.

Dad-of-three and professional childminder, Andy Wade, said he and wife, Helen, wanted the physical measures in order to make the street safer for youngsters.

“I wonder how the councillors would feel if they had an election, won it by one vote and then were told the win had been given to the opposition?” Mr Wade asked.

“What was the point of having a consultation and questionnaires if the result was then ignored and the vote goes in favour of scrapping the humps idea.

“There was enough support to bring it in, and I don’t think it should have gone back to the councillors for any further decision.”

And he warned some residents might use their cars to create ad hoc calming measures.

“We, and other people, have previously parked on the road instead of our drives to make a chicane and slow down the traffic,” Mr Wade said.

“It’s not our job to do that, but this is a residential area, and children should be able to play out safely.”